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AS I SAY, THE CHOICE IS WHETHER
OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD IT,
WE'RE GOING TO OWN IT AND IT
WOULD ACCRUE TO THE BENEFIT OF
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
YOU ARE RIGHT ON
AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO
MY OWN POLICIES, WHICH IS IF
IT'S AMERICAN TAXPAYER MONEY
BUS,
STREETCAR, OR A TRAIN SYSTEM IN
CALIFORNIA OR THE METRO SYSTEM
HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THEN
OUR MONEY MUST BE USED TO BUY
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT, PLAIN
AND SIMPLE.
THOSE ARE AMERICAN-MADE JOBS.
WE HAD A BAD POLICY IN
CALIFORNIA, THE SAN
FRANCISCO-BAY BRIDGE,
OAKLAND-SAN FRANCISCO BAY
PROJECT.
THE STEEL WENT UP TO BID A
BILLION DOLLARS OR SO OF STEEL
FOR THE BRIDGE.
ONE CONTRACTOR PUT IN TWO BIDS.
ONE BID WAS 10% CHEAPER AND THAT
WAS CHINESE STEEL.
THE OTHER BID WAS AMERICAN STEEL
AND IT WAS 10% MORE.
SO THE BRIDGE AUTHORITY IN ITS
WISDOM SELECTED THE CHEAPER.
TURNS OUT THAT CHEAPER IS NOT
NECESSARILY BETTER AND
ULTIMATELY NOT CHEAPER.
IT TURNED OUT IT WAS FAR MORE
THERE WERE SERIOUS FLAWS IN THE
STEEL AND WELDING AND 6,000 TO
8,000 JOBS WERE IN CHINA THAN IN
THE UNITED STATES.
ULTIMATELY THE COST WAS HIGHER
AND WE DID NOT BENEFIT IN THE
UNITED STATES, EVEN IN
CALIFORNIA, FROM THE INCREASED
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT WOULD
HAVE OCCURRED IF THE DIRECT JOBS
IN MANUFACTURING AND WELDING AND
FA BRING INDICATING THAT STEEL
WERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE DON'T WANT THAT EVER AGAIN.
IF IT'S OUR TAXPAYER MONEY, FROM
WHATEVER SOURCE, THEN MAKE IT IN
AMERICA, USE OUR MONEY TO BUY
DOMESTIC-MADE BUSES AND TRAINS
AND STEEL.
WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.
I PUT THIS ONE UP HERE NOT TO
GET AWAY FROM THE TRANSIT SYSTEM
AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS WHICH ARE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE 150,000
MILES OF ROAD THAT NEED REPAIR.
THE TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT HAD
BEEN OFFERED BY OUR COLLEAGUES
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE DOESN'T
EVEN GET CLOSE TO KEEPING UP
WITH WHAT WE NEED IN THE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM AND REPAIRING THE BRIDGES
THAT ARE FALLING DOWN OR COULD
FALL DOWN ACROSS AMERICA.
WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
WE NEED TO RE-IGNITE THE
AMERICAN DREAM AND PART OF THAT
IS THE WORLD'S BEST
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, OVER THE LAST
DECADE OR TWO, WE HAVE SEEN THAT
DECLINE IN AMERICAN STATUS IN
TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER WE ARE
IN THE THIRD WORLD OR SECOND
WORLD, WE'RE SURELY NOT IN THE
FIRST WORLD FOR HEY
TRANSPORTATION OR THE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION -- HIGHWAY
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OR THE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
AND THIS TRANSPORTATION BILL
THAT WE MUST PASS, THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE, WE MUST COME
TOGETHER AND PASS A BILL THAT IS
ADEQUATELY FUNDED THAT PROVIDES
FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AS
WELL AS FOR THE ROAD
TRANSPORTATION.
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.
THEY HAVE A $75 BILL -- BILLION
HOLE IN THEIR WALLET.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN SERVING ON
THIS COMMITTEE AND FAR MORE
THAN I AM AND
LET'S CONTINUE WITH THIS FOR A
WHILE.
ONE OF YOUR
POINTS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THAT
ONE PIECE OF THE BRIDGE PROJECT,
THE $400 MILLION ELEMENT OF
STEEL, IT WASN'T JUST THE STEEL
ITSELF.
HAD WE BEEN DEVELOPING THAT
PORTION OF THE STEEL FOR THE
PROJECT IN THE UNITED STATES,
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS
OF OTHER JOBS THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN RELATED TO IT TO SUPPORT
THAT EFFORT IN TERMS OF THE
MANUFACTURING, THE DEVELOPMENT,
THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE
EQUIPMENT TO MANUFACTURE THE
STEEL AND PUT IT IN PLACE AND
THE TOOLS.
IT IS A DRAMATIC RIPPLE EFFECT.
YOU REFERENCED 150,000 MILES OF
ROAD IN CRITICAL NEED OF REPAIR.
WHAT'S UNDER THE SURFACE IS EVEN
WORSE SHAPE.
WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES
EVERY DAY SIX BILLION GALLONS OF
WATER THAT LEAKS FROM WATER
MAINS THAT ARE OLD, IN SOME
CASES, UNSAFE AND UNHEALTHY.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF 9
THOUSAND OLYMPIC-SIZED SWIMMING
POOLS.
LINED END TO END, IT WOULD GO
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
SWIMMING.
IT'S A LOT OF
WATER WASTED AND IT IS A PROBLEM
IN TERMS OF UNDERMINING ROADS.
WE HAVE ALL SEEN THESE TERRIBLE
PICTURES OF SINK HOLES THAT
DEVELOP.
I USED TO KEEP THEM AND USE THEM
FOR PRESENTATIONS.
I STOPPED WHEN ONE OF THE SINK
HOLES WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN
PORTLAND, OREGON, WHICH OPENED
UP AND SWALLOWED A MAINTENANCE
TRUCK.
THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL
ENGINEERS EVERY FIVE YEARS DOES
A REPORT CARD ON THE STATE OF
AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEIR MOST REPORT CARD
SHOWED THAT WE HAVE $2.3
TRILLION UNMET NEED AND THE
GRADES RANGED FROM C-MINUS TO AN
F, IN TERMS OF WATER, ELECTRICAL
GRID, TRANSIT, ROADS, BRIDGES.
THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS IN
TERMS OF AMERICAN QUALITY OF
LIFE AND THINK ABOUT THE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
FAMILY-WAGE JOBS IF WE WERE
INVESTING IN REBUILDING AND
RENEWING AMERICA.
AND I KNOW YOU APPEAR TO HAVE A
LITTLE STATISTIC HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO
HAVE HANDED THIS TO YOU AS YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EXPANSION
THAT OCCURS WHEN YOU INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I RAN OVER TO GET THIS, BUT
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOUR
FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS, A
DOLLAR -- $1.57 IS PUMPED INTO
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY, THAT IS
THE EFFECT THAT OCCURS WHEN YOU
INVEST IN THIS.
AND THESE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT
PAY DIVIDENDS YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THIS IS THE IMMEDIATE TURNAROUND
AND YOU DESCRIBED IT SO VERY
WELL, IT'S THE SMALL BUSINESS
THAT IS FABRY INDICATING AND ON
AND ON.
WE INVEST A DOLLAR TODAY AND GET
BACK $1.57, PEOPLE PAYING TAXES
INVESTMENT.
THIS IS THE IMMEDIATE MULTIPLIER
EFFECT.
BUT AN INVESTMENT THAT IS SAY, A
WATER SYSTEM IN PORTLAND,
OREGON, THAT IS OLD AND NEEDS TO
BE REPLACED, THAT IS NOW IN THE
GROUND AND IS GOING TO SERVE
YEAR ONE, TWO, THREE AND
PROBABLY FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
USED UP.
I SUPPOSE IF WE WERE TO INVEST
IN AN ARTILLERY SHELL AND SHOOT
IT OFF IN AFGHANISTAN, WELL, OK,
THAT'S ONE OFF, ONE TIME AND
IT'S GONE, PERHAPS FOR GOOD
PURPOSE, BUT GONE.
YOU INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE IN
AMERICA, YOU GET AN IMMEDIATE
RETURN AND IT'S THERE FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION AND THE
GENERATION BEYOND.
THE SAME
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN CIVIL
ENGINEERS HAVE PRODUCED ANOTHER
FASCINATING REPORT ABOUT WHAT
THE COSTS WILL BE IF WE DON'T
INVEST IN THE WATER
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED TENS
OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF EXTRA
COST IF WE DO NOT TAKE CARE OF
THESE PROBLEMS.
IT IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS
UNKNOWN TO AMERICAN HOMEOWNERS
WHO QUICKLY FIND OUT IF YOU
DON'T FIX THE HOLE IN THE ROOF
YOU END UP WITH MASSIVE
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.
EXCUSE ME.
YOU'RE GETTING TOO CLOSE TO MY
ROOF.
DON'T FOCUS ON ROOFS, BECAUSE I
DIDN'T FIX IT AND, YES, I GOT
TO REPAIR THE INSIDE AS WELL AS
THE ROOF.
THE DAMAGE THAT
YOU MENTIONED IN TERMS OF THE
ROADS THAT ARE IN NEED OF
CRITICAL REPAIR, THE COSTS TO
THE AMERICAN MOTORISTS IN TERMS
OF THE DAMAGE TO CAR SUSPENSION
SYSTEMS AND TIRES, THE WEAR AND
TEAR WEARS OUT CARS MORE
RAPIDLY.
DELAYS IN TRAFFIC FOR SOMETHING
LIKE U.P.S., FIVE-MINUTE DELAY,
I THINK TRANSLATES TO SOMETHING
LIKE $100 MILLION OF COSTS TO
THEM OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.
THIS $1.57 OF ECONOMIC
IMPACT FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED
TRANSLATES INTO OVER 25,000
JOBS FOR EACH $1 BILLION THAT
IS SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
A FAR GREATER RATE OF RETURN ON
-- THAN ON MILITARY SPENDING,
ON A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS.
TAX CUTS, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES.
THIS IS REALLY ECONOMIC
BENEFIT.
AND PARTICULARLY WHEN WE HAVE A
BUILDING TRADE SECTOR WHERE
UNIONS ARE LOOKING AT 20%, 30%,
40% OR MORE UNEMPLOYMENT, THESE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT PEOPLE
TO WORK TOMORROW ON THINGS THAT
PEOPLE IN AMERICA NEED TODAY.
WE OUGHT NOT
DANCE AROUND ONE OF THE ISSUES
INVOLVED IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT'S WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING
FROM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY
FOR THIS?
OUR COLLEAGUE, ROSA DELAURO,
FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS HAVE
MADE A -- HAS MADE A PROPOSAL
WHAT EUROPE HAS FOR THE LAST 30
YEARS NOW, AN INFRASTRUCTURE
BANK, A WAY TO FINANCE THOSE
PROJECTS THAT HAVE A CASH FLOW.
THE SPECIFIC ONES THAT YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT, THE BRIDGE AS A
TOLL, HAS THE ABILITY TO PAY
OFF A LOAN.
THE WATER SYSTEM HAS A FEE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE DELIVERY OF
WATER.
THE SANITATION SYSTEM.
ALL OF THOSE ARE WHAT I CALL
CASH FLOW PROJECTS.
I -- MS. DELAURO FROM
CONNECTICUT HAS PROPOSED AN
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK WHERE THEY
HAVE A 10-YEAR NOTE.
WE COULD BORROW AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL FOR LESS THAN 2% NOW ON A
10-YEAR NOTE, PUT THAT IN THE
BANK, GO TO THE PENSION FUNDS
AROUND THE NATION AND THEY ALL
INVEST IN THE BANK AND NOW WE
HAVE $25 BILLION, $50
BILLION AND IN SOME CASES
DEPENDING HOW ROBUST YOU COULD
GO, YOU COULD HAVE $100 BILLION
OF CAPITAL IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK TO FUND THE
KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE A
CASH FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.
TOLL ROADS, WATER SYSTEMS,
SANITATION SYSTEMS, AIRPORTS,
BRIDGES THAT HAVE A TOLL
ALL OF THOTION THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE, -- ALL OF THOSE
THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, AND IN
DOING THAT YOU NOT ONLY HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINANCE
THOSE PROJECTS AND OBTAIN THIS
KIND OF ECONOMIC STIMULATION,
BUT YOU HAVE ALSO TAKEN OFF THE
GENERAL FUND OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND SOME STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TAKEN OFF OF
THEIR GENERAL FUND THE BURDEN
OF FINANCING THOSE.
FREEING UP MONEY FOR THOSE
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT DO
NOT HAVE A CASH FLOW ASSOCIATED
WITH THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THE
HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS AND COUNTY
ROADS THROUGHOUT AMERICA WHERE
THERE'S NO FEE ASSOCIATED WITH
SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
FINANCE THESE THINGS IF WE
COULD JUST GET OFF THE DIME,
PLEASE, PLEASE, THE LEADERSHIP
IN THIS HOUSE, MOVE US FORWARD,
GIVE US A PROJECT THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY PUT IN PLACE, AN
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AND OTHER
KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT WILL
ACTUALLY CREATE JOBS.
THE GENTLEMAN
IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
NOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS OF
GOING ABOUT THIS.
YOU KNOW, RONALD REAGAN IN 1982
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE GAS TAX, A
USER FEE, COULD BE USED TO HELP
THE COUNTRY AT THAT POINT WHICH
WAS IN A SERIOUS ECONOMIC
RECESSION.
RONALD REAGAN SIGNED INTO LAW A
NICKEL A GALLON INCREASE IN THE
GAS TAX THAT HELPED SPUR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY.
WE HAVE RIGHT NOW UNNECESSARY,
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RAISE A
UNNECESSARY TAX
BENEFITS THAT ARE FLOWING, FOR
INSTANCE, TO THE LARGEST OIL
COMPANIES THAT NO LONGER NEED
THESE TAX BREAKS.
IN FACT, GEORGE BUSH, THE
YOUNGER, FAMOUSLY --
GEORGE W. BUSH,
THE MOST RECENT BUSH.
SAID WHEN OIL
PRICES GOT TO $50 A BARREL, OIL
COMPANIES DIDN'T NEED
INCENTIVES TO DRILL FOR THE
MOST PROFITABLE COMMODITY ON
THE FACE OF THE PLANET.
WE'VE WATCHED IT GO $100 A
BARREL OR MORE.
WE COULD COMPLETELY CAPITALIZE
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK THE
GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT JUST BY
UNNECESSARY TAX BENEFITS TO OIL
COMPANIES WHICH THE MAJORITY OF
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WOULD
APPROVE IN A HEARTBEAT.
THERE'S ALSO A JUST -- THE
THE
WEALTHIEST OF AMERICANS WOULD
JUST HALF OF THAT, HALF OF THAT
WOULD ENABLE US TO FULLY FUND
THE TRANSPORTATION GAP OVER THE
YEARS.
I HAVE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD DEAL WITH A WATER
TRUST FUND THAT WOULD LEVERAGE
CLOSE TO $1 TRILLION BECAUSE OF
WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID THAT
THERE ARE OTHER FUNDS FLOWING
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THAT,
$1 TRILLION OF DEVELOPMENT OVER
THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES HERE
FOR US TO STEP UP AND MEET THE
NEEDS OF AMERICA TO REBUILD AND
RENEW IT.
WE HAVE WORK TO
DO AND AMERICANS WANT TO GO TO
WORK AND THEY WANT THINGS MADE
IN AMERICA.
I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU
OF
OUR TAX CODE.
THE BIG FIVE OIL COMPANIES IN
AMERICA, EXXON, CHEVRON, B.P.
AND THE OTHER TWO HAVE IN THE
LAST DECADE $1 TRILLION OF
PROFIT.
$1 TRILLION OF PROFIT FOR
THOSE, YET AT THE SAME TIME,
THOSE BIG FIVE GET $4 BILLION A
YEAR IN TAX SUBSIDIES.
OUR TAX MONEY GOING TO THOSE
COMPANIES AS IF HE THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH OF OUR -- AS IF
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF OUR
MONEY.
THEY DO.
IF WE BRING THAT BACK FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, YOU
COULD USE IT, AS YOU SAY, WITH
TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IT'S
ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTATION.
YOU COULD USE IT FOR CLEAN
ENERGY.
YOU COULD USE IT TO CAPITALIZE
-- LET'S SAY YOU TAKE THREE
YEARS OF THAT AND SUDDENLY YOU
HAVE $12 BILLION.
WE COULD CAPITALIZE AN
ALL OF THAT IS POSSIBLE IF WE
GET AWAY FROM THE NOTION OF
CONTINUING TO HELP THE OIL
INDUSTRY, THE WEALTHIEST
INDUSTRY IN THE WORLD DOESN'T
NEED OUR TAX MONEY AS A
SUBSIDY.
AND WE OUGHT TO REEL THAT MONEY
BACK IN AND USE IT FOR THINGS
THAT REALLY CREATE INVESTMENTS
IN AMERICA.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE COULD
DO THAT.
WE HAD WHAT ARE CALLED BONDS.
BUILD AMERICA BONDS.
THOSE HAVE EXPIRED, BUT THOSE
WERE EXTRAORDINARILY USEFUL FOR
SMALL CITIES, BIG CITIES AND
COUNTIES TO BUILD
INFRASTRUCTURE.
MANY, MANY THINGS CAN BE DONE
BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOW 12
MONTHS, 14 MONTHS INTO THE
CURRENT CONTROL OF THE HOUSE BY
OUR REPUBLICANS AND NOT ONE OF
THESE THINGS HAVE COME TO THE
FLOOR TO REBUILD THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY.
WE HAVE WORK TO DO, AND WE CAN
DO IT.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE HAVE INTRODUCED 36 MAKE IT
IN AMERICA BILLS, DIFFERENT
KINDS OF WAYS TO DO IT.
TWO BILLS DEAL WITH OUR TAX
MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION, THE
GASOLINE TAX, USE IT TO BUY
AMERICAN-MADE STEEL, EQUIPMENT,
BUSES AND THE OTHER ONE I HAVE
IS USING OUR TAX MONEY IF WE'RE
GOING TO SUBSIDIZE WIND
TURBINES AND SOLAR CELLS, WE
BUY AMERICAN MADE.
AND THIS IS A WAY OF KEEPING
JOBS IN AMERICA.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL
THOUGHTS ON THIS AND LET'S
CONTINUE ON.
WELL, IT IS ONE
OF THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS WE
ARE FACING IN TERMS OF BUILDING
IT IN AMERICA.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
CONSTRUCTING A WIND ENERGY
INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S BEEN REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 20
YEARS.
WE'VE WATCHED THE PRICE PER
KILOWATT HOUR PRODUCED BY WIND
DROP DRAW -- DRAMATICALLY,
DRAMATICALLY.
WE ARE WATCHING THESE
WIND TURBINE FARMS, YOU HAVE
THEM IN CALIFORNIA, WE HAVE
THEM IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
THEY'RE IN THE MIDWEST, THEY'RE
IN TEXAS, THEY ARE PROVIDING
REVENUE TO RURAL AMERICA.
FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE BEING
ABLE TO HARVEST THE WIND,
LITERALLY --
WITH THE CAOS
AND SHEEP BENEATH THE -- WITH
THE COWS AND SHEEP BENEATH THE
TURBINES.
AT THE SAME
TIME THIS IS LOW CARBON.
THIS IS NOT ADDING TO OUR
GREENHOUSE GAS EFFECT.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING
EXPORTED OVERSEAS, GIVING MONEY
TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE US
VERY MUCH.
AT THE SAME TIME IT IS BUILDING
THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOW MANUFACTURING WIND
TOUCHINS IN THE UNITED STATES,
PEOPLE WHO -- TURBINES IN THE
UNITED STATES, PEOPLE WHO ARE
PUTTING UP, FABRICATING THESE
TOWERS, PEOPLE DEALING WITH THE
TRANSMISSION CAPACITY.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS THIS CONGRESS SHOULD DO
IS TO EXTEND THE PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BENEFITS
THAT FLOW TO THE OIL INDUSTRY
LONG PAST TIME THAT THEY WERE
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES
FOR THEM TO DEVELOP OIL
RESOURCES, BUT WE HAVE PROVIDED
A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCENTIVE TO
HELP GET THE WIND ENERGY
BUSINESS COMPETITIVE.
WELL, THAT PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT EXPIRES AT THE END OF
THE YEAR, AND ALREADY WE ARE
WATCHING INVESTMENT PATTERNS
START TO PULL BACK BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE UNCERTAIN THAT THEY
CAN GO AHEAD WITH LARGE-SCALE
PROJECTS, INVESTING MILLIONS,
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
NOT CERTAIN THEY WILL CONTINUE
TO HAVE THIS TAX BENEFIT.
THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
TRILLION OF TAX
PROVISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO
EXPIRE AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
ACTUALLY HAVE DEFICIT SAVINGS
BY RECALIBRATING SOME OF THOSE,
AT A MINIMUM WE OUGHT TO STEP
UP AND WE OUGHT TO STEP UP NOW
TO BE CLEAR THAT THE PRODUCTION
TAX CREDIT IS IN FACT GOING TO
CONTINUE SO WE DON'T SHUT DOWN
THE WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY, WE
DON'T LOSE THE MANUFACTURING
AND THE CONSTRUCTION TO SAY
NOTHING OF CLEAN, RENEWABLE
ENERGY.
THAT WOULD BE A TRAGEDY.
WE HAVE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.
I INTRODUCED WITH MY FRIEND
FROM SEATTLE, CONGRESSMAN
REICHERT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VERY
DISTINGUISHED CO-SPONSORS,
INCLUDING YOURSELF.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULDN'T BE LANGUISHING.
THERE IS A BIPARTISAN INTEREST
IN MAKING SURE THAT THE WIND
ENERGY INDUSTRY DOESN'T SHUT
DOWN AND THAT WE CONTINUE
MAKING IT IN AMERICA.
THANK YOU VERY,
VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING UP THAT
ISSUE.
I DO HAVE THE TWO MAJOR
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WIND FARMS
IN MY DISTRICT.
ONE IN SOLANO COUNTY.
MY OWN HISTORY IN THIS GOES
BACK TO 1978 WHEN I MOORED THE
FIRST STATE LAW TO PRO-- WHEN I
AUTHORED THE FIRST STATE LAW TO
HAVE A TAX CREDIT FOR THOSE
THAT BUILT THE WIND TURBINES
WAY BACK IN 1978, SO WE'VE COME
A LONG, LONG WAY ON THIS AND WE
OUGHT TO GET IT GOING.
I NOTICE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO GO AND I'M GOING TO WRAP UP
SHORTLY AFTER YOU LEAVE.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
THINGS HERE.
I AM JUST GOING TO BRING ONE
MORE ISSUE AND THAT HAS TO DO
WITH THE PRICE OF FUEL IN
AMERICA TODAY.
THANK YOU MY FRIEND FROM OREGON
BRINGING US THE NORTHWEST
PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
AND PURCHASED
GASOLINE THIS PAST WEEK WHEN I
WAS IN CALIFORNIA AND SOMETHING
AROUND THE RANGE OF $44.15.
WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS SUDDEN
RISE WHILE IN THE MIDWEST IN THE
UNITED STATES THERE IS A SURPLUS
OF OIL.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?
I THINK WE CAN LOOK TO SEVERAL
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE TAKING
PLACE.
ONE THING WE KNOW THAT IS TAKING
PLACE IS SPECULATION.
BECAUSE OF THE DODD-FRANK
LEGISLATION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS
THE POWER TO DEAL WITH
SPECULATORS AND I KNOW THE
PRESIDENT PICKED THIS SHUP UP
LAST WEEK AND HE SAID THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT A SPECIAL TASK
FORCE HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO FERRET
OUT THE SPECULATION THAT IS
TAKING PLACE IN THE GASOLINE
I HAD HEARD A RUMOR THAT THE
UNITED STATES IS ACTUALLY
EXPORTING GASOLINE.
IN FACT, WE ARE.
WE ARE EXPORTING 26 MILLION
GALLONS OF GASOLINE A DAY.
YEAH, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.
WE ARE EXPORTING OVER 26 MILLION
GALLONS OF GASOLINE A DAY.
AND THE ENERGY COMPANIES SAY THE
PRICE IS GOING UP BECAUSE OF A
SHORTAGE OF GASOLINE.
WHAT ARE YOU SELLING ME?
THERE IS A SHORTAGE WHEN WE'RE
ACTUALLY EXPORTING GASOLINE?
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT?
WELL, WE IMPORT GASOLINE, TOO.
EXPORTS.
SO HOW DOES THAT HELP AMERICA?
I DON'T THINK IT DOES.
SPECULATION, THE EXPORT OF
GASOLINE AND YOU WONDER WHY THE
PRICES ARE GOING UP?
AND CERTAINLY THE SPECULATION
HAS TO DO WITH THE QUESTION OF
IRAN AND WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO
SHUT DOWN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ.
BUT THE REALITY IS FL IS A GLUT
OF OIL IN THE MIDWEST THAT OUT
TO BE USED FOR REFINING GASOLINE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE OUGHT TO MAKE IT IN THE
UNITED STATES AND KEEP IT IN THE
UNITED STATES, 26 MILLION
GALLONS A DAY BEING EXPORTED.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT IN
CALIFORNIA AND HAVE IT DRIVE
DOWN THE PRICE IN CALIFORNIA.
THERE IS NOT A SHORTAGE.
THERE MAY BE A SHORTAGE OF
WISDOM AND MAYBE IN EXCESS OF
MARKET-DRIVEN POLICIES HERE, BUT
WE HAVE A CRISIS IN THE UNITED
STATES AND CERTAINLY THE PRICE
OF GASOLINE.
A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT DRILL,
OK.
LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOW
DRILLING AND PRODUCING MORE OIL
IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR
THAN IN THE PREVIOUS EIGHT
YEARS.
RIGHT BACK TO THE REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION WHEN GEORGE W.
BUSH WAS IN POWER AND THE
REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED BOTH
HOUSES.
THE DRILLING OF OIL WAS AT AN
ALL-TIME LOW.
AS WE'VE COME INTO THIS PERIOD
OF TIME, WE'VE SEEN THE
PRODUCTION INCREASE TO THE
HIGHEST IT'S BEEN IN THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS AND MORE TO COME.
BUT THE OPENING OF THE OUGHTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF, THE ALASKA
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WILL
HAVE NOTHING TO DO IN THE NEAR
TERM, THE NEXT FIVE, 10 YEARS,
BECAUSE OF THE LENGTH OF TIME IT
TAKES TO PRODUCE FROM THOSE NEW
AREAS AND BY THE WAY, YOU DON'T
NEED TO WAIVE EVERY
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW IN THE NATION
OR IN THE STATE TO GO, GET THAT
OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA, YOU
DON'T EVEN KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED
TO GET ONTO THE OCEAN TO GET TO
THE OIL.
YOU CAN DRILL FROM THE LAND,
REDUCING THE RISK TO THE
ENVIRONMENT, TO THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENT TO NEAR ZERO AND
OFFSHORE.
WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE
THINGS AND ONE OTHER THING AND I
WILL WRAP WITH THIS AND SO IF MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES NEED TIME
FOR THEIR NEXT HOUR,
HERE'S FAIR WARNING.
NATURAL GAS, EXTRAORDINARY ASSET
FOR AMERICA.
NATURAL GAS IS READILY
WE ARE PRODUCING MORE NATURAL
GAS IN AMERICA NOW THAN EVER
BEFORE AND WE ARE DISCOVERING
THAT WE CAN GET EVEN MORE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT AN
EXTRAORDINARY ASSET.
THIS IS AN AMERICAN ASSET.
IT IS A STRATEGIC ASSET AND
LEADING TO THE CREATION OF JOBS
IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.
IN MY OWN DISTRICT THAT I SHARE
WITH REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE
MILLER, WE HAVE SEEN THE DOW
CHEMICAL PLANT IN PITTSBURGH AND
ON THE ANTIOCH LINE, WE ARE
SEEING DOW CHEMICAL COMING HOME,
BRINGING JOBS BACK TO AMERICA,
INVESTING A LARGE SUM OF MONEY,
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN THAT FACILITY BECAUSE OF THE
LOW PRICE ON NATURAL GAS.
ALL ACROSS THIS WINTER IN EVERY
AMERICA, WE'VE SEEN
HOMEOWNERS, HEATING BILLS NOT
SOAR BUT ACTUALLY DECLINE.
YES, IT HAS BEEN A WARM WINTER
BUT THE PRICE OF HOME HEATING IN
THE ATLANTIC AND NEW ENGLAND
STATES AND MIDWEST, THE PRICE OF
NATURAL GAS IS AT AN ALL-TIME
LOW.
LAST YEAR IT WAS $4.40 BUT FIVE
YEARS IT WAS IN THE $10 TO $12
RANGE.
WE ARE SEEING AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA.
ENERGY IS THE FOUNDATION, THE
FOUNDATION OF OUR ECONOMY.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE A READY SUPPLY
IN ABUNDANCE, YOU OUGHT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT AS A STRATEGIC
AND YET IN COMMITTEE AFTER
COMMITTEE IN MY OWN NATURAL
RESOURCES COMMITTEE, I HAVE SEEN
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES PUT
FORTH BILLS THAT WOULD EXPORT
NATURAL GAS, TAKE THIS STRATEGIC
SEND IT OVERSEAS
BECAUSE THE ENERGY COMPANIES CAN
GET A HIGHER PRICE OVERSEAS.
THEY DON'T NEED A HIGHER PRICE.
YOU.
WHAT WE NEED IS A LOW COST
ENERGY SOURCE IN AMERICA.
DO NOT ALLOW -- DO NOT ALLOW BY
LEGISLATION OR BY CONSECUTIVE
ORDER THE EXPORT OF NATURAL GAS
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT THAT NOW
GOES TO CANADA OR TO MEXICO
UNDER THE NAFTA AGREEMENTS ALL
OF THAT IN PIPELINE, THIS WEEK,
ONE OF THE BIG WALL STREET HEDGE
FUNDS DECIDED TO INVEST $2
BILLION IN A TEXAS SCHEME TO
BUILD A LICK WHICH FIDE NATURAL
GAS EXPORT FACILITY.
I SUPPOSE IT'S NICE TO BUILD IT,
BUT BY GOLLY THAT IS AMERICA'S
EX ASSET THAT IS GOING TO BE
SENT OVERSEAS.
YOU SEND THAT OVERSEAS, YOU ARE
GOING TO DRIVE UP THE PRICE OF
NATURAL GAS.
FARMERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE
FOR THEIR FERTILIZERS AND HOME
HEATING PRICES RISE AS THOSE
EXPORTS OF THIS STRATEGIC ASSET
RISES AND SEE THAT DOW CHEMICAL
IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENT
DECISION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE LOW COST OF NATURAL GAS AND
SAY AMERICA IS SO SCREWED UP
IT'S TAKING ONE OF ITS MOST
BASIC STRATEGIC ASSET AND
SELLING IT TO THE HIGHEST PRICE.
I THINK BACK OF A STORY IN THE
BIBLE WHERE THERE WAS A
BIRTHRIGHT SOLD FOR A BOWL OF
PORRIDGE.
WE OUGHT NOT DO THIS.
SO WITH THAT, IF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE ANYWHERE NEARBY,
THEY CAN CLAIM THEIR HOUR.
WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IMPORTANT
MAKE IT IN AMERICA AGENDA, 36
DEMOCRATIC BILLS THAT WOULD
BUILD OUR ECONOMY AND WOULD
CAUSE US TO COME BACK AND
SECTOR.
IT WILL HAPPEN.
IT'S GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT
OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS HAVE
CAUSED THE AMERICAN
MANUFACTURING BASE TO ERODE.
POLICIES SUCH AS TAX BREAKS FOR
AMERICAN COMPANIES THAT WOULD
SEND THEIR JOBS OFFSHORE.
WE STOPPED NEARLY ALL OF THAT
BEFORE THE DEMOCRATS LOST POWER
HERE IN CONGRESS.
AND WE ASK OUR REPUBLICANS TO
WORK WITH US INPUTTING INTO LAW
THESE 36 BILLS THAT WILL CAUSE
US TO REBUILD THE AMERICAN
MIDDLE CLASS, TO REIGNITE THE
AMERICAN DREAM AND GIVE THE
MIDDLE CLASS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE IN MANUFACTURING.
MR. SPEAKER, WITH THAT, I YIELD
BACK MY REMAINING TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUESTS.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
REQUESTED FOR MR. JACKSON OF
ILLINOIS FOR TODAY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE REQUEST IS
GRANTED.
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE.
TO THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES, ATTACHED IS
THE TEXT OF A PRESIDENTIAL
POLICY DIRECTIVE ESTABLISHING
PROCEDURES TO IMPLEMENT SECTION
1022 OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2012.
PUBLIC LAW 112-81 OF THE ACT,
WHICH I SUBMIT TO THE CONGRESS
AS REQUIRED UNDER 1022 C-1 OF
THE ACT AND IT INCLUDES A
WRITTEN CERTIFICATION THAT IT IS
IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS TO WAIVE THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1022 A-1
OF THE ACT WITH RESPECT TO
CERTAIN CATEGORY OF INDIVIDUALS
TO THE CONGRESS
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 1022
A-4 OF THE ACT.
SIGNED BARACK OBAMA, THE WHITE
HOUSE.
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON
ARMED SERVICES AND ORDERED
PRINTED.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH, MR. BISHOP
IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60 MINUTES AS
THE DESIGNEE OF THE MAJORITY
LEADER.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I'M COMING TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT IS
EXTREME SIGNIFICANCE, IN FACT
EVERY TOWN HALL MEETING I EVER
HELD, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS
IF NOT THE FIRST QUESTION THAT
IS ASKED IS ABOUT ILLEGAL
ENENTRY INTO THIS COUNTRY AND
BORDER SECURITY.
SO IN TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE
ISSUE IS BEFORE US, THIS IS THE
MAP OF THE UNITED STATES THAT IS
DIVIDED INTO THE BORDER PATROL
SECTORS, THE AREAS IN WHICH THE
HAS AND AS YOU SEE
FROM THE NUMBERS, THERE IS A
VAST DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ELLIE --
ILLEGALLY INTO THE COUNTRY.
IF YOU GO TO THE SECTOR OF
MAINE, LAST TIME WE HAD
VERIFIABLE FIGURES, LAST TIME WE
HAD COMPLETE FIGURES FROM BORDER
PATROL, ONLY 56 ILLEGALS ARE
APPREHENDED TRYING TO GET INTO
MAINE, WHICH HAS TO TELL YOU
THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF
PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE FROM
NOVA SCOTIA AND TAKING HOCKEY
JOBS.
BUT IF YOU LOOK IN THE TUCSON,
ARIZONA, SECTOR, WHICH IS ONLY
PART OF ARIZONA, NOT THE ENTIRE
STATE OF ARIZONA, 51%, A QUARTER
OF A MILLION PEOPLE, THE LAST
TWO YEARS FOR WHICH WE HAVE
COMPLETE DATA, A QUARTER OF A
MILLION PEOPLE.
51% OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE UNITED
STATES AND WERE APPREHENDED CAME
TUCSON, ARIZONA,
SECTOR AND APPREHENDED IN THE
TUCSON, ARIZONA SECTOR, WHICH
HAS TO BRING ABOUT THE SIMPLE
QUESTION WHY.
WHY IS ARIZONA SHES THIS PART OF
-- WHY IS ARIZONA, THIS PART OF
ARIZONA, THE OBVIOUS CHOICE OF
THOSE TRYING TO GET IN THIS
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY?
AND THE ANSWER LIES IN THE NEXT
CHART.
THIS IS THE BORDER LAND ALONG
OUR SOUTHERN BORDER.
THE BLACK LINE IS 100 MILES FROM
THE BORDER WHICH IS BY
DEFINITION BOTH BY STATUTE, THE
LEGAL JURISDICTION OF OUR BORDER
PATROL.
THE AREA IN RED IS THE AREA THAT
IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN THOSE AREAS.
YOU WILL SEE THAT THAT SPECIFIC
AREA OF ARIZONA, ALMOST 80% OF
THAT IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
ALMOST 21 MILLION ACRES OF LAND
OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IN SHARP CONTRAST TO LIKE THE
BORDER.
OF THAT 21 MILLION ACRES,
ROUGHLY 21 MILLION ACRES, AN
AREA OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
AND DELAWARE COMBINED IS
WILDERNESS AND THAT ISN'T
INCLUDING ENDANGERED SPECIES AND
HABITAT.
THOSE AREAS IN RED IS WHERE WE
FIND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PROHIBITING THE BORDER PATROL
FROM DOING ITS JOB.
THE BORDER PATROL HAS ACCESS IN
THE WHITE AREAS, PRIVATE
PROPERTY, TO DO THEIR JOB.
IT IS ONLY WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT STOPS THE FEDERAL
BORDER PATROL FROM DOING THEIR
JOB ON FEDERAL PROPERTY THAT WE
SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM AND
UNFORTUNATELY THOSE COMING INTO
THE COUNTRY SEEM TO REALIZE THAT
THIS AREA WHERE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT STOPS THE FEDERAL
BORDER PATROL ON FEDERAL LAND AS
UNUSUAL AND BIZARRE AS THAT
SEEMS, BECOMES THE ENTRANCE OF
CHOICE FOR THEM COMING INTO THIS
COUNTRY.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRANTS
AND PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND JOBS
IN SOME PARTICULAR WAY, THIS IS
THE ENTRANCE OF CHOICE OF THE
DRUG CARTEL.
THE BEST ESTIMATE, ONLY AN
ESTIMATE, 40% OF THOSE COMING
INTO THIS AREA OF ARIZONA ARE
PART OF THE DRUG CARTEL.
THEY DON'T CARE IF THE ECONOMY
IS GOING UP OR DOWN OR E-VERIFY
OR NOT, THEY ARE TRYING TO COME
INTO THIS COUNTRY.
AND WILL TELL YOU 80% OF THE
ILLEGAL DRUGS COMING INTO THIS
DRUG ARE STILL COMING BY THE
DRUG CARTEL IN THIS AREA.
AND WHAT IS WORSE, IT IS NOT
JUST THE DRUG CARTEL BUT THE
PLACE.
"SEATTLE TIMES" STORY AND THE
TITLE WAS PAIR ACCUSED OF
IMMIGRANTS.
THE STORY WAS ABOUT THE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING THAT WE HAVE WHICH
IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND
THE KIND OF VIOLENT ACTS THAT
ARE USED AGAINST WOMEN AND
PROPERTY.
IT HIGHLIGHTS THE KINDS OF
VIMET ACTS HAPPENING HERE ON
AMERICAN SOIL, THE ACCOUNTS OF
*** AND OTHER VIOLENT ACTS
AGAINST WOMEN AN CHILDREN.
THE COUNTIES DOWN THERE ON THE
BORDER HAVE AMPLE EVIDENCE, YOU
GO ALONG THESE ROUTES OF ***
TREE, IN WHICH THE DRUG CARTEL
MEMBERS, SOMETIMES OTHER
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WILL ***
FEMALES AND FORCE THE VICTIM TO
LEAVE AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING,
USUALLY AN UNDERGRARMENT, ON
THE TREES AN MAKE THIS AS IF IT
IS A TYPE OF MONUMENT TO THE
HORRIBLE ACTIVITY TAKING PLACE
ON GOVERNMENT LAND.
AND STILL WE DO NOT GIVE THE
BORDER PATROL ACCESS ON
GOVERNMENT LAND THAT THEY HAVE
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WE ARE A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AND
BY DEFINITION, A SOVEREIGN
COUNTRY CONTROLS ITS BORDERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT DOING
THAT AT ALL.
THIS IS WHAT THE BORDER DOWN
THERE IN ARIZONA WILL LOOK LIKE
GOING ALONG HERE IS A FENCE,
THE FENCE DOESN'T GO ALL THE
WAY UP THE MOUNTAINSIDE, THERE
ARE SOME AREAS WHERE FENCING
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AND CANNOT
BE DONE.
THERE IS ONE ROAD ALONG THE
THAT IS THE ACCESS OUR BORDER
PATROL HAS IN THIS PARTICULAR
AND IN SOME CASES, THAT BECOMES
THE SOLE ACCESS.
IF YOU TALK TO THE BORDER
PATROL AGENTS BY THEMSELVES.
WHEN THEY WILL BE HONEST WITH
YOU, THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY
DON'T NEED MORE MONEY TO FIGHT
THIS PROBLEM ON THE BORDER.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED
MORE PERSONNEL.
WHAT THEY NEED IS ACCESS.
EAST-WEST ACCESS SO THEY CAN GO
SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN ALONG THE
ONE ROAD THAT FOLLOWS THE
BORDERLINE AND THE BORDER
FENCE.
THAT IS WHAT BECOMES EXTREMELY
SIGNIFICANT.
WHAT IS SO BIZARRE, WHAT IS SO
BIZARRE IN THAT IS THAT THE
BORDER PATROL MUST OBTAIN
OR A PERMIT FROM
FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT
AGENCIES BEFORE ITS AGENTS CAN
MAINTAIN ROADS OR INSTALL
SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT ON THE
LANDS OR DO WHAT WE ASK THEM TO
DO.
AND THAT, FRANKLY, IS SIMPLY
WRONG.
AND ONCE AGAIN LUDICROUS.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE ODD THINGS
THAT WE STOP THE BORDER PATROL
FROM DOING THEIR JOB AND
INSTEAD WE FIND THAT
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IS
TAKING PLACE BUT NOT BY THE
BORDER PATROL, NOT BY AMERICAN
CITIZENS, BUT BY THOSE WHO ARE
ILLEGALLY COMING ACROSS.
THIS SIMPLY IS ONE OF THE
PICTURES OF THE KINDS OF TRASH
THAT IS LEFT BEHIND ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY AND ON PUBLIC
PROPERTY.
TONS OF WHICH MUST BE PICKED
UP.
RESULTING FROM THE FACT THAT WE
DO NOT HAVE A BORDER -- BORDER
PATROL WITH THE ABILITY TO PA
THESE AREAS.
I HATE TO SAY THIS, THE DRUG
CARTEL WHO IS COMING OVER
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT WILDERNESS
DESIGNATION OR ABOUT ENDANGERED
SPECIES' HABITAT, THEY DON'T
CARE ABTHE ENDANGERED SPECIES
UNLESS IT CAN BE EATEN.
WHAT THEY DO IS SIMPLY LEAVE
BEHIND ALL THE TRASH AS THEY'RE
COMING THROUGH.
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THIS IS ANOTHER PICTURE OF WHAT
TAKES PLACE THERE ON THE
BORDER.
THE SACK TUSS, CACTI ALONG THE
BOARER, IS AN ENDANGERED
SPECIES THAT HAS BEEN CUT DOWN
BY THE DRUG CARTELS.
IF ANY OTHER AMERICAN DID THAT,
THAT WOULD BE A FELONY.
FOR THEM, ALL THIS IS IS A NICE
ROADBLOCK AROUND ONE OF THE FEW
ROADS THAT ARE THERE SO WHEN
SOMEBODY ELSE COMES DOWN THERE
IN A VEHICLE AND STOPS, THEY
ARE A PERFECT TARGET FOR MUGS
AN ROBBERY AND ANYTHING THEY
WANT TO.
YOU'LL FIND SOME CACTI DOWN
THERE HAS DWRA GRAFFITI WHICH
SHOWS WHERE -- GRAFFITI ON IT
THE CARTEL IS
IN OPERATION.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FIRES
DOWN THERE THE LAST LARGE FIRE
IN ARIZONA AND MEXICO STARTED
IN TWO PARTS, PART IN NORTHERN
ARIZONA WAS PROBABLY STARTED BY
A CAMPER.
WASN'T IT.
FOREST SERVICE HAS YET TO
DETERMINE WHO STARTED THAT FIRE
THAT SPILLED OVER INTO NEW
MEXICO, AND COST HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.
BUT THEY HAVE RULED OUT
EVERYONE EXCEPT, WELL, ILLEGAL
ALIENS THAT HAPPENED TO BE
CLOSE TO THE KNOWN SMUGGLING
TRAILS WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
WHAT HAPPENS DOWN THERE IS,
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF FIRES
THAT ARE STARTED.
TWO OF THEM ON PURPOSE.
ONE IS A DISTRESS FIRE NEW YORK
WHICH CASE THERE'S SOMEBODY
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER, IN A
DIRE SITUATION, LOST THEIR
ABILITY TO GO ANY FURTHER AND
THEY NEED RESCUING, YOU START A
FIRE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE
YOU'LL GET RESCUED.
THERE'S ALSO DIVERSION FIRES
STARTED SPECIFICALLY.
A DIVERSION FIRE IS TO MAKE
SURE WHEN THE FIRE STARTS OVER
HERE AND EVERYONE RUNS OVER
THERE TO STOP THE FIRE, IT
MEANS OVER HERE IS NOW OPEN FOR
YOUR DIVERSION INTO THIS
THE DRUG CARTELS HAVE THIS DOWN
TO A HABIT AND STYLE ALL THEIR
THE THIRD PART, SIMPLY AN
ACCIDENTAL FIRE.
I THINK THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT
THE LAST FIRES DOWN THERE WERE
PROBABLY ACCIDENTAL FIRES,
STARTED BY THOSE COMING ACROSS
THE BORDER ILLEGALLY PUT NOT
FOR A DIVERSION AN NOT FOR A
DISTRACTION, JUST, IT WAS A
PROBLEM THAT CAUSED US ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF PUBLIC -- LOSS OF
PUBLIC WEALTH AND PUBLIC TIME
IN TRYING TO FIX THAT
PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
SIMPLY CLAIMS THAT THE 1964
WILDERNESS ACT TAKES PRECEDENCE
OVER EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS
TAKES PLACE -- TAKING PLACE ON
THIS PROPERTY.
THEY SAY THAT THIS -- THAT
THEIR DUTIES ARE TO FULFILL
THIS PARTICULAR ACT, NOT
NECESSARILY TO CONTROL THE
BORDER.
ONE OF THE LETTERS THEY SENT
READS VERY CAREFULLY.
THE ISSUE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE
ACCESS BY THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND
BORDER PROTECTION ON THE SAN
BERNARDINO WILDERNESS AREA,
ACTUALLY IT DOESN'T SAY THAT.
IT SAYS ISSUES REMAIN AND WE
SEEK YOUR, THE BORDER PATROL'S,
ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THEM AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT
THE SIGNIFICANCE AND
IRREPARABLE DAMAGE WE BELIEVE
IS IMMINENT.
WE ARE CONCERNED WITH OPERATING
VEHICLES ANYWHERE OTHER THAN
THE ROADS, ROAD DRAGGING AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT COULD
CAUSE EROSION AND MOBILE -- AND
MOBILIZE FRAGILE HYDRAULIC SOIL
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAN
BERNARDINO AREA.
WHAT THAT SAYS IN SIMPLE TERMS
IS, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
BORDER PATROL DOES,
YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO DISTURB
THE SOIL EVEN IF IT MEANS BEING
ABLE TO APPREHEND SOMEBODY
ILLEGAL, ESPECIALLY OF THE DRUG
CARTELS COMING OVER THERE.
THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THE SOIL
NOT BOTHERED THAN FIND SOMEBODY
ENTERING THIS COUNTRY
ILLEGALLY, ESPECIALLY PART OF
THE DRUG CARTEL.
THIS IS WHERE I STARTED.
THIS IS A RESPONSE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO THE
BORDER PATROL IN THIS AREA.
THE ISSUE OF EMERGENCY VEHICLE
ACCESS BY THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND
BORDER PROTECTION HAS BEEN IN
DISPUTE OVER THE PAST FEW
MONTHS.
THE RECENT EXCHANGE OF LETTERS
FAILED TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE
NEEDS OF OUR TWO AGENCIES AND
REACH AGREEMENT ON HOW TO BEST
PROCEED FROM MY POINT OF VIEW,
THE WAY TO BEST PROCEED IS TO
STOP THE DRUG CARTELS FROM
SMUGGLING ILLEGAL DRUGS OVER
PLACE.
WHAT THEY DESAIED THEN
WAS, WHAT THIS SAYS IS, THE
FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS BELIEVE
IT IS THEIR DUTY TO ENFORCE
RESTRICTIVE LAWS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE I WOULDERNESS ACT EVEN
IF IT HELPS THE DRUG CARTEL IN
THEIR HUMAN -- IN THEIR DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING AND
OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT
ARE OCCURRING AS THEY CROSS
INTO THE UNITED STATES.
THE CHIEF WENT ON TO SAY,
EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST,
THAT'S NICE OF THEM, WHEN HUMAN
LIFE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY OF
PERSONS IN THIS AREA MUST BE
IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED.
ACCESS TO THE REFUGE BY THE
BORDER PATROL WILL BE LIMITED
TO THE USE OF ESTABLISHED
ADMINISTRATIVE ROADS.
HOWEVER, YOU MAY ACCESS ON FOOT
TO PATROL OR APPREHEND
SUSPECTS.
MANAGERS OF THE LAND ARE
DICTATING TO THE BARDER PATROL
HOW THEY WILL DO THEIR JOB.
I MIGHT ADD THAT THIS
DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSIDERS
THE CHANCE OF THE BORDER PATROL
ACTUALLY GOING IN AND DOING
SOMETHING RAPIDLY IS NOT WHAT
THE MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
SAID.
THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN
DEFINITION, TO STOP THE BORDER
PATROL FROM DOING IT.
NOW, UNDER THIS RECOMMENDATION,
THE BORDER PATROL HAS TO DRIVE
AROUND THIS REFUGE WHICH ADDS
HOURS TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE,
WHICH OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE
TRYING TO CAPTURE SOMEBODY,
SOMETHING JUST DOESN'T WORK.
SO SINCE THAT'S WHAT IS TAKING
PLACE, HOW DOES THE DEPARTMENT
OF SUPERIOR DECIDE TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
IT'S EASY.
THEY PUT UP GATES.
THAT WAS THE RESULT OF THAT
EXCHANGE ON HOW TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
OF CONTROLLING OUR SOUTHERN
BORDER.
WELL THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
-- WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR DID IS PUT UP A GATE
WITH A LOCK ON IT ON THE SAN
REFUGE.
IT'S AMAZING THAT THEY THOUGHT
THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM BECAUSE
WHAT THIS GATE DOES IS BLOCK
OUT THE BORDER PATROL FROM
GOING IN THIS AREA.
IT DOESN'T LOCK OUT ANYONE
ELSE.
DOESN'T LOCK OUT THE DRUG
CARTEL, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS
OR ANYONE ELSE FROM TRYING TO
COME IN TO THIS PARTICULAR
AREA.
EARLY ON, WHEN JANET IN A 308
TAU NOAH -- NAN ETNA POLL TAU
NOAH BECAME HEAD OF THE --
JANET NAPOLITANO BECAME HEAD OF
SECURITY, SHE SAID, ONE
NECESSARY IS PROHIBITIONS
AGAINST MECHANICAL CONVEYANCE,
REICH FOUR WHEELERS, OR IN THE
AIR.
THE U.S. BORDER PATROL DEPENDS
ON THESE CONVEYANCES.
THE REMOVAL OF SUCH ADVANTAGE
BEING GENERALLY DETRIMENTAL TO
ITS ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE
NATIONAL SECURITY HIGH PRESSURE
IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE IF YOU STOP
US FROM GOING ON MOTORIZED
VEHICLES IN THESE AREAS, WE
CAN'T CATCH THE BAD GUYS.
THIS INCLUDES THAT THESE TYPES
OF RESTRICTIONS CAN IMPACT THE
EFF KA SOIF OPERATIONS AND BE A
HAINEDRANS TO THE MAINTENANCE
OF OFFICER SAFETY.
IT MAKES THEIR JOB MORE
DIFFICULT AND IT PUTS THEM AT
RISK.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHE CONTINUED, IT
MAY BE INADVISEABLE FOR OFFICER
SAFETY TO WAIT FOR THE ARRIVAL
OF HORSES FOR PURSUIT DOCTOR
FOR PURSUIT PURPOSES OR TO
ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND SMUGGLING
VEHICLES WITH A LESS CAPABLE
FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.
IN SIMPLE WORDS AGAIN.
IF THE IDEA IS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR THAT THE
BORDER PATROL, WHEN THEY COME
TO ONE OF THESE SPECIAL AREAS,
HAVE TO GO ON FOOT, THEY HAVE
TO CHASE THEM DOWN ON FOOT OR
WAIT UNTIL A HORSE ARRIVES SO
THEY CAN CHASE THEM ON HORSE
P.A.C., WHILE THE DRUG CARTEL
ARE USING MOTORIZED VEHICLES,
THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
BUT THAT IS INDEED WHAT IS
HAPPENING DOWN THERE.
SHE CONTINUED ON WITH A
DIFFERENT CORRESPONDENT.
IT ILLUSTRATES THAT IN AREAS
WHERE THE BORDER PATROL HAS
BEEN GIVEN ACCESS, THE REGRETH
AND REHABILITATION OF THE LAND
HAS IMPROVED BUT OVERALL THE
REMOVAL OF CROSS-BORDER
VIOLATOR, STOPPING THE DRUG
CARTEL FROM COMING ACROSS THE
BORDER, FROM PUBLIC LANDS IS A
VALUE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS
WELL AS TO THE MISSION OF THE
LAND MANAGERS.
THE VALIDITY OF THIS STATEMENT
WAS EVIDENCED RECENTLY WHEN THE
VEHICLE FENCE PROJECT SOUTH OF
THE BUENOS AIRES NATIONAL
WILDLIFE AREA RECEIVED PRAISE
FROM A BIOLOGIST.
THE BIOLOGIST WAS ENCOURAGED BY
THE REGROWTH TAKING PLACE TO
THE NORTH OF THE VEHICLE FENCE
SUBSEQUENT TO ITS INSTALLATION.
WHAT SHE WAS SAYING VERY SIMPLY
IS -- SIMPLY IS WHEN YOU STOP
THE BORDER PATROL FROM BEING
ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB THEY DON'T
DO THEIR JOB AND THE BAD GUYS
COME ACROSS AND THE BAD GUYS
DON'T CARE AT ALL ABOUT THE
ENVIRONMENT OR WHAT THE LAWS
ARE OR WHAT THE RULES ARE.
IF YOU WERE ABLE TO STOP THEM,
THEN ALL THE DEGRADATION THAT
TAKES PLACE BY THE DRUG CARTEL
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER CAN BE
FIXED AND CAN BE FIXED WELL.
NOW I HAVE TO ADMIT, THAT WAS
EARLY ON IN HER ADMINISTRATION
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY.
I HAVE TO ADMIT ALSO OF LATE,
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY HAS BEEN TOLD TO
SIMPLY TELL US EVERYTHING IS
GOING FINE DOWN THERE ON THE
BORDER.
THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER NICELY.
NOT QUITE THE SAME STORY I GOT
ON THE TRIPS DOWN THERE TO THE
PEOPLE.
IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
IS ACTUALLY DISTURBING IS THE
COMMITTEE HA STAFF HAS BEEN
REFUSED ACCESS TO EVEN TALK TO
HOMELAND SECURITY PERSONNEL
EVER SINCE WE STARTED MAKING
THIS PARTICULAR KIND OF PUSH MY
ASSUMPTION IS THAT THERE IS A
REASON THAT THE CARTELS ARE
TRYING TO GO THROUGH THIS
ARIZONA SECT CROR.
THE REASON RELATES TO THE KINDS
OF LANDS DOWN THERE AND HOW WE
TREAT THOSE LANS.
THE REASON SIMPLY SAYS IF WE
ALLOW THE BORDER PATROL TO DO
THEIR JOB, WE WILL ALL BE MUCH
MORE SECURE AN THE CONCEPT OF
STOPPING THE BORDER PATROL FROM
DOING THEIR JOB ON FEDERAL
PROPERTY IS SIMPLY
UNACCEPTABLE.
AND YET, THAT IS INDEED WHAT WE
ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR'S
RESPONSE TO THAT, THEY SAID THE
FOLLOWING IN A MEMO, 2008.
CONGRESS HAS DIRECTED
CONSTRUCTION OF THESE
FACILITIES, MEANING THE PUBLIC
LANDS, AND THERE A COMPELLING
NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE, BUT
THESE TOWERS AND BUILDINGS AN
ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT AND
MOTORIZED ACTIVITIES WITHIN
CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED
WILDERNESS WOULD BE CONTRARY TO
PROTECTING THE PRIME EVIL FEEL
OF THE AREA AND CONTRARY TO THE
DEDE-SIRE OF CONGRESS.
DO THEY WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT
CONGRESS WELCOMES WITH OPEN
ARMS THE DRUG CARTELS COMING
INTO THIS COUNTRY?
THAT THE KIND OF HUMAN
DEGRADATION, THE KIND OF CRIMES,
CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY IS
SOMETHING CONGRESS WANTS TO
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY WANT US
TO SAY?
FURTHER ON, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY, PROPOSALS
WOULD NOT PRESERVE NATURAL
CONDITIONS.
THIS IS ONCE AGAIN, INTERIOR'S
MEMO, WOULD MAKE THE IMPRINT OF
MAN'S WORK SUBSTANTIALLY
NOTICEABLE AND WOULD
SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLITUDE OR A
PRESUMPTIVE OR UNCONFINED
OF RECREATION IMPAIR THESE
AREAS FOR FUTURE USE BY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
DO NOT FALL
UNDER THE EXEMPTIONS FOR
PROHIBITION OF USE UNDER SECTION
4-C OF THE WILLED DEERNESS ACT
AND ARE PROHIBITED.
REDUCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SOLITUDE, UNCONFINED TYPE OF
RECKCRE SAYINGS?
MAYBE THEY DO HAVE A POINT.
THE OPERATIVES WOULD PRETTY MUCH
REDUCE THE SOLITUDE IN A PRETTY
SERIOUS WAY ALONG THE BORDER,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE
APPROACH,.
SO WHAT DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF
INTERIOR PROPOSE FOR THIS?
RATHER THAN ALLOWING THE BORDER
PATROL TO DO THEIR JOB AND
CONTROL OUR BORDER WHICH A
SOVEREIGN COUNTRY WOULD DO, YOU
TELL AMERICANS THAT TRAVEL IS
NOT RECOMMENDED, THE GOAL IS TO
STAY AWAY FROM THESE PARTICULAR
AREAS.
THE APPROACH WAS SIMPLY THIS,
SINCE THE AREAS OF AMERICAN LAND
ON THE AMERICAN BORDER AREN'T
DO WHATEVER WE CAN
TO STOP AMERICANS FROM GOING
DOWN THERE AND IN SO DOING, SEAL
THESE AREAS TO THE DRUG CARTEL.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE WAYS OF
SOLVING THE PROBLEM, SINCE
THAT'S NOT A TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY
POLITICALLY CORRECT APPROACH TO
WARN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC OF THE
DANGER OF TRAVELING THROUGH
AMERICAN TERRITORY, PERHAPS YOU
CAN PUT UP A SOFTER AND GENTLER
SIGN, WHICH IS A TRAVEL CAUTION.
SMUGGLING AND ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION MAY BE ENCOUNTERED
IN THIS AREA.
PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I'M SORRY, THIS MAY BE THE
APPROACH, BUT IT'S THE WRONG
APPROACH AND I WISH THIS WAS
JUST LIMITED TO THE ARIZONA
BORDER.
SAME LINE WAS USED IN A NATIONAL
PARK AND OTHER FEDERAL LANDS
AROUND THE BORDER.
WE SIMPLY KNOW THAT IT IS NOT
SAFE TO GO INTO THESE AREAS
WHERE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS
TAKING PLACE AND THE PROBLEM IS,
ANYTHING ABOUT
IT.
ALMOST ALL OF THE ORGAN PIPE
NATIONAL MONUMENT WAS CLOSED TO
VISITORS, ALONG THE ARIZONA
BORDER.
I SAW AN ARTICLE WHICH A
PORTION, A PORTION OF ORGAN PIPE
WAS OPENED UP TO VISITORS.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WENT THERE, YOU
HAD TO GO WITH AN ARMED GUARD.
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN
EIGHT HOURS AGO TALKING ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY OF PEOPLE GOING
DOWN THERE, WHERE THE PARK
RANGER WEARING A BULLET-PROOF
VEST TOLD THE TOURISTS THAT THEY
WOULD BE GOING ON A TRAVEL IN A
HE TOLD THEM THERE WOULD BE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HIDING IN
THE HILLS AND CLOSELY WATCHING
THEIR TWO-HOUR NATURE HIKE WHILE
ANOTHER PAIR OF ARMED RANGERS
WOULD FOLLOW THE TOURISTS
M-14'S.
AS THE GROUP LOADED INTO THE
ADVANCE ONE WOMAN WHISPERED,
DOES IT MAKE YOU WORRIED, WE
HAVE CHEST PROTECTIONS AND WE
DON'T GOT NONE OF THEM.
HOMELAND SECURITY IS SAYING THAT
IN THIS PARK, THINGS ARE GETTING
I THINK THEYR BECAUSE FINALLY
THEY ALLOWED HOMELAND SECURITY
TO PUT UP NINE SURVEILLANCE
TOWERS IN THE PARK MAKING IT
EASIER FOR THE AGENTS TO DETECT
NEW FOOT TRAFFIC SO THE DRUG
RUNNERS ARE NO LONGER WAITING IN
THE HILLS FOR THEM, WAITING TO
SEE WHERE THE TOWERS CANNOT
CONTACT THEM.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING,
AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT A VIABLE
APPROACH TO IT.
LET ME TRY AND TELL IT TO YOU
THIS WAY.
OBVIOUSLY, A FENCE BY ITSELF IS
NOT ENOUGH TO SECURE THE BORDER.
WE DO NEED ELECTRONIC TRACKING
DEVICES.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF OUR
MOBILE TRACKING DEVICES.
VERY HIGH-TECH AND VERY
WONDERFUL AND IF YOU NOTICE IT
IS A TRUCK WITH A TRAFFIC DEVICE
ON IT.
IN THE ORGAN PIPE NATIONAL
MONUMENT, THEY TRIED TO MOVE
THIS FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
AND THE END RESULT WAS THAT
AFTER SIX MONTHS, THE LAND
MANAGERS FINALLY SAID, OK, YOU
CAN MOVE THIS TRUCK FROM POINT A
TO POINT B, BY THAT TIME, IT
WASN'T WORTH IT.
IF THE LAND MANAGER STUDIED THIS
ISSUE FOR SIX MONTHS AND SAID,
THE LAND IS TOO PRECIOUS IN THAT
PART AND YOU CAN'T GO AT ALL,
MAYBE I WOULD UNDERSTAND IT.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HE SAID.
HE SAID YOU ARE GOING TO WAIT
FOR SIX MONTHS AND I'LL REVIEW
IT FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN HE
SAID BACK UP THE TRUCK AND MOVE
THESE DEVICES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR
US CONTROLLING THE BORDER, BUT
IT'S ESSENTIAL IF IT IS A MOBILE
DEVICE, IT HAS TO BE MOBILE AND
HAS TO HAVE THE ABILITY OF
BACKING UP THE TRUCK AND MOVING
IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
OF THE
FOG HORN ANTELOPE, IN AN EMAIL
REGARDING TESTING OF REPLACING
OF EQUIPMENT, THEY COULD DO THE
FOLLOWING.
A BIOLOGICAL -- A PERSON SHALL
BE PRESENT AT THE PROPOSED
LOCATION OF THESE TRAFFIC
MONITORS FOR THE SONORAN
LONG-HORN.
THE MONITOR MUST HAVE
THE MONITOR WILL SCAN THE AREA
AND IF OBSERVED, ANY KIND OF
ACTIVITY WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL
THE ANTELOPE ARE MOVED.
THEY CANNOT BE ENCOURAGED TO
VACATE THE AREA.
AND IF THE BORDER PATROL WAS TO
RUN ACROSS A GROUP OF THESE,
THEIR JOB WAS TO BACK UP NO
FASTER THAN 15 MILES AN HOUR
UNTIL YOU WERE OUT OF THAT
PARTICULAR AREA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
FOUND OUT THAT IS TAKING PLACE
BASICALLY
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR IS
INSISTING OMIT GATION.
I THINK THERE ARE OTHER WORDS
THAT I WOULD RATHER USE,
MITIGATION FUNDS COMING FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
CONDUCTING THE CALCULATIONS WE
CONDUCTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
SAID AS OF THAT DATE, $10
MILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY HAS
GONE TO THE BORDER PATROL
SUPPOSEDLY TO PROTECT OUR BORDER
AND THEN INSTEAD BEEN REVERTED
TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO
HIRE THINGS OR BUY OTHER
PROPERTY IN THE NAME OF
MITIGATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BORDER
PATROL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO WAY
TO MITIGATE AGAINST THE
MITIGATION DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE
DRUG CARTELS AND HUMAN SMUGGLERS
NOR DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF
THAT.
I'M JOINED HERE BY A GOOD FRIEND
FROM ARIZONA, WHO KNOWS THIS
FULL WELL.
HE LIVES AND
UNDERSTANDS IT AND HE ALSO SITS
ON THE COMMITTEE THAT TALKS
ABOUT THESE PARTICULAR AREAS AND
HAS INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT ON
THE RE-AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT
COMES FROM HIS COMMITTEE.
THE REPRESENTATIVE, MR. QUAIL, I
WILL -- MR. QUAYLE, I WILL YIELD
TO YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND
WORKING WITH ME TO PUT IN ISSUES
WHICH WE HOPE WILL COME TO THE